Top Cybersecurity books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Cybersecurity books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity

Understanding the concepts of Cybersecurity starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Eat Sleep Cyber Security Repeat: Cyber Security Analyst Notebook

Eat Sleep Cyber Security Repeat: Cyber Security Analyst Notebook

This lined notebook makes a funny cyber security gift for cyber security analyst.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Beginners Guide: How to Become a Cyber-Security Analyst: : Phase 2 - Security Engineering and Ethical Hacking

Beginners Guide: How to Become a Cyber-Security Analyst: : Phase 2 - Security Engineering and Ethical Hacking

This book teaches you how to install, configure and utilize three popular security tools: SPLUNK, Nessus and Wireshark. After that we will have some fun by performing several hacking techniques. During the ethical hack labs, you will practice Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining Access and Covering Tracks. This book is designed to cater to beginners that are interested in but are timid about breaking into the field of IT. I counter that apprehension with simplified explanations and mentorship-style language. Rather than providing a list of theories and concepts to memorize, you will gain hands on, true-to-life cyber-security experiences .

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Become a Cybersecurity Analyst: First Edition

Become a Cybersecurity Analyst: First Edition

This guide provides clear and concise information on crucial cybersecurity analyst responsibilities such as: Configuring Tools: This may come in the form of virus software, password protectors, and vulnerability management software. They will evaluate what the company needs and use these tools to protect its information. Reporting: The analyst will detail what is currently going on in the network and evaluate its strengths. One of the skills needed is learning to read these reports. They will show what is well-protected and indicate if there is any unusual activity in the network. Evaluate Weaknesses: No network is fully secure, but the goal is to make it as secure as possible. Part of the job is to continuously test all company networks and find weaknesses before bad actors or external threats can compromise them.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Cybersecurity: The Beginner's Guide: A comprehensive guide to getting started in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity: The Beginner's Guide: A comprehensive guide to getting started in cybersecurity

This book put together all the possible information with regards to cybersecurity, why you should choose it, the need for cyber security and how can you be part of it and fill the cybersecurity talent gap bit by bit. Starting with the essential understanding of security and its needs, we will move to security domain changes and how artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping to secure systems. Later, this book will walk you through all the skills and tools that everyone who wants to work as security personal need to be aware of. Then, this book will teach readers how to think like an attacker and explore some advanced security methodologies. Lastly, this book will deep dive into how to build practice labs, explore real-world use cases and get acquainted with various cybersecurity certifications.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

How Cybersecurity Really Works: A Hands-On Guide for Total Beginners

How Cybersecurity Really Works: A Hands-On Guide for Total Beginners

How Cybersecurity Really Works is an engaging introduction to the field of cybersecurity. You'll learn how attackers operate, as well as how to defend yourself and organizations against online attacks

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking

Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking

In Penetration Testing, security expert, researcher, and trainer Georgia Weidman introduces you to the core skills and techniques that every pentester needs. Using a virtual machine–based lab that includes Kali Linux and vulnerable operating systems, you’ll run through a series of practical lessons with tools like Wireshark, Nmap, and Burp Suite. As you follow along with the labs and launch attacks, you’ll experience the key stages of an actual assessment—including information gathering, finding exploitable vulnerabilities, gaining access to systems, post exploitation, and more.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Specializations and Deeper Cybersecurity Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. Cybersecurity is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven techniques and effective tips to help you advance in your cybersecurity career

Cybersecurity Career Master Plan: Proven techniques and effective tips to help you advance in your cybersecurity career

Cybersecurity is an emerging career trend and will continue to become increasingly important. Despite the lucrative pay and significant career growth opportunities, many people are unsure of how to get started. This book is designed by leading industry experts to help you enter the world of cybersecurity with confidence, covering everything from gaining the right certification to tips and tools for finding your first job. The book starts by helping you gain a foundational understanding of cybersecurity, covering cyber law, cyber policy, and frameworks. Next, you'll focus on how to choose the career field best suited to you from options such as security operations, penetration testing, and risk analysis. The book also guides you through the different certification options as well as the pros and cons of a formal college education versus formal certificate courses. Later, you'll discover the importance of defining and understanding your brand. Finally, you'll get up to speed with different career paths and learning opportunities. By the end of this cyber book, you will have gained the knowledge you need to clearly define your career path and develop goals relating to career progression.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Cert Guide

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Cert Guide

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) Cert Guide is a best-of-breed exam study guide. Expert technology instructor and certification author Troy McMillan shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics. The book presents you with an organized test-preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly. Review questions help you assess your knowledge, and a final preparation chapter guides you through tools and resources to help you craft your final study plan.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Cybersecurity Incident Management: Master Guide

Cybersecurity Incident Management: Master Guide

Successfully responding to modern cybersecurity threats requires a well-planned, organized, and tested incident management program based on a formal incident management framework. It must be comprised of technical and non-technical requirements and planning for all aspects of people, process, and technology.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Enterprise Cybersecurity: How to Build a Successful Cyberdefense Program Against Advanced Threats

Enterprise Cybersecurity: How to Build a Successful Cyberdefense Program Against Advanced Threats

Enterprise Cybersecurity empowers organizations of all sizes to defend themselves with next-generation cybersecurity programs against the escalating threat of modern targeted cyberattacks. This book presents a comprehensive framework for managing all aspects of an enterprise cybersecurity program. It enables an enterprise to architect, design, implement, and operate a coherent cybersecurity program that is seamlessly coordinated with policy, programmatics, IT life cycle, and assessment.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The CERT Guide to Insider Threats: How to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Information Technology Crimes (theft, Sabotage, Fraud)

The CERT Guide to Insider Threats: How to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Information Technology Crimes (theft, Sabotage, Fraud)

Since 2001, the CERT® Insider Threat Center at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI) has collected and analyzed information about more than seven hundred insider cyber crimes, ranging from national security espionage to theft of trade secrets. The CERT® Guide to Insider Threats describes CERT’s findings in practical terms, offering specific guidance and countermeasures that can be immediately applied by executives, managers, security officers, and operational staff within any private, government, or military organization.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Advanced Penetration Testing: Hacking the World's Most Secure Networks

Advanced Penetration Testing: Hacking the World's Most Secure Networks

Featuring techniques not taught in any certification prep or covered by common defensive scanners, this book integrates social engineering, programming, and vulnerability exploits into a multidisciplinary approach for targeting and compromising high security environments.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

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I'm a lifelong cybersecurity technologist turned entrepreneur. In 2016, I founded Sentant as my "side hustle" security consulting practice. It grew to over 30 employees, ~$6MM in revenue and was acquired in 2022. I've worked directly with dozens of startups over the years, both as a consultant and in-house. This …

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